'Ophthalmic Drugs Market Will Reach $18.7 Billion in 2012' Visiongain Report Predicts

23-03-2012: A new report by visiongain predicts that the world market for ophthalmic drugs will reach $18.7 billion for 2012. That revenue forecast appears in Ophthalmic Drugs: World Market Prospects 2012-2022, published in March 2012.

From 2012 to 2022, the pharmaceutical industry will improve treatment of ocular disorders and increase revenues from those products. The R&D pipeline for treating eye diseases is strong. Visiongain's study predicts that the world market for eye drugs will grow strongly from 2012 to 2022. It will be stimulated by increasing prevalence of eye disorders among aging populations worldwide. Sustained-release ocular implants, gene therapy and RNA interference technology will influence R&D in ophthalmology, as will neuroprotective agents for glaucoma. Many commercial opportunities for ophthalmic drugs exist, with high revenues possible this decade.

Dr Syed Ahmed, a senior pharmaceutical industry analyst at visiongain, said, "The world market for ophthalmic drugs is an important segment of the pharma industry. The main causes of visual impairment and sight loss in developed countries are retinal diseases. These include age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic macular oedema and macular oedema caused by retinal vein occlusion. Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness. It remains a large segment of the ophthalmic prescription drug market. Worldwide, there are many under-met treatment needs for eye disorders.

"Over coming years, there will be much research in ophthalmics, especially for sustained release implants and injection technologies for retinal diseases. Improved drug delivery and new formulations will be important. Sustained release formulations will offer marked potential for revenue growth. Diabetic macular oedema (DME) will also be important to the future of the ophthalmic drug market. The number of people developing Type II diabetes is rising, with many diabetics developing DME. In particular, anti-VEGF therapy will play an increasing role in the treatment of DME."

Visiongai's report provides revenue forecasts to 2022 at world market, therapeutic submarket, product and national level.